Küster E, Safwat M S
Zentralbl Bakteriol Naturwiss. 1978;133(5):385-93.
The nitrogen of keratin of feathers is not taken up by plants as a suitable N-source. It becomes available by the keratinolytic activity of microorganisms. The high temperature evolved during the composting process promotes the growth and activity of thermophilic, keratin-decomposing microorganisms, e.g. Thermoactinomyces vulgaris. The increasing in temperature (self-heating) reflects the course of composting. A feather-peat mixture exhibits a considerably high heat production, i.e. a fast decomposition of keratin and other organic matter.
羽毛角蛋白中的氮不能被植物作为合适的氮源吸收。它通过微生物的角蛋白分解活性变得可用。堆肥过程中产生的高温促进了嗜热的角蛋白分解微生物（如普通高温放线菌）的生长和活性。温度升高（自热）反映了堆肥的进程。羽毛-泥炭混合物表现出相当高的热量产生，即角蛋白和其他有机物的快速分解。
